Romanian Court of Appeal Suspends Salary Law Reform Project

On 21 July 2026 the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended the procedural steps for the draft law on unified public‑sector salaries after the health‑sector federation SANITAS petitioned the court. The ruling blocks the law from producing any legal effect and prevents it from entering parliamentary debate. SANITAS said the decision “gives us the right to participate in social dialogue” and warned that the project “cannot advance in its current form”.

The Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (MMFTSS) announced it will file an appeal, stating it was not cited as a party in the proceedings and therefore could not defend its position. Minister Dragoș Pîslaru declared the ministry will “respect the court’s decision but will contest it on procedural grounds”.

A marathon meeting at Cotroceni Palace involving senior government officials, party leaders and the president’s adviser was held to discuss amendments to the salary law, a key milestone of Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) worth €770 million. Negotiations aim to address unions’ concerns while preserving the law’s objective of correcting salary imbalances in the public sector. The suspension has delayed the law’s adoption, pushing the deadline to August 2026 and raising questions about the timing of fund disbursements under the PNRR.